The Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha has opened "Wafa al-Hamad: Sites of Imagination," the first solo museum exhibition dedicated to the late Qatari artist Wafa Al-Hamad (1964–2012). Curated by Lina Ramadan, the show runs through August 9 and features over 40 years of Al-Hamad's work across mediums including ink, watercolor, pastel, collage, and digital art. Al-Hamad was one of the first female students at the Qatari Free Atelier in 1981 and later became a professor at Qatar University, exhibiting in group shows across the Gulf such as the Sharjah Biennale 4 (1999) and "6 Gulf Women Artists" in Sharjah (1994).
The exhibition matters because it recovers the overlooked legacy of a pioneering Qatari woman artist whose experimental practice—spanning abstraction, op-art, Islamic decorative techniques, and digital work—has been marginalized in art historical narratives. By presenting her diverse oeuvre and highlighting her role as an arts educator, the show challenges the canon of modern art in the Gulf region and underscores the importance of institutional recognition for underrepresented artists. It also introduces Al-Hamad's work to a global audience, revealing her visionary approach to Arab and Islamic art.